Macon – The Class AAAAA championship trophy is going back to Miller Grove.
The DeKalb County school, which won six straight from 2009-2014, had an empty feeling after coming up short a year ago. But the mission-minded Wolverines made it right on Friday by defeating previously unbeaten Allatoona 50-48 in the title game at the Macon Coliseum.
“Only three of these kids have been a part of this before,” Miller Grove coach Sharman White said. “It was a legacy and a tradition they had to buy into. But we tell them all the time that tradition never graduates.”
More: Photos: High school basketball state finals
Two of the three had a major part in returning the title to Miller Grove. Senior guards Aaron Augustin and Alterique Gilbert combined for 31 points. Augustin had 16 points, four assists and four steals and Gilbert, who has signed with UConn, had 15 points, four assists and five steals.
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle,” Gilbert said. “We were prepared for a dogfight.”
Miller Grove’s Naquante Hardy made a layup with 2:37 left to break a 44-44 tie and give the Wolverines (30-2) the lead for good. But they didn’t secure the outcome until Colin Young’s steal with five seconds left. Allatoona had one final possession but was unable to get off a shot.
No. 1-ranked Allatoona (31-1) got 16 points and eight rebounds from Ephraim Tshimanga and 13 points from Kevin Perry.
Defense was a big part of the win for Miller Grove. The No. 2 Wolverines forced 23 turnovers and stole the ball 15 times.
“I felt like it was a good defensive game but it wasn’t our best defensive game,” White said. “We allowed a lot of baskets and they shot a lot of layups. That just shows you they were getting into the interior of our defense, but again we bend but we didn’t break. That’s what I was proud about most of all and when they had to get plays at the end of the game they got them.”
The first quarter came as advertised, with Allatoona’s defense helping the Bucs take a 12-9 lead.
Miller Grove bounced back with a strong second quarter and took a 24-20 lead into halftime. The Wolverines got 12 points from Gilbert in the first half.
Miller Grove expanded its lead to 27-22 with 6:50 left in the third quarter when Allatoona began to fire back. The Bucs reeled off nine unanswered points, the last basket coming on a layup by Trey Doomes at 3:37.
But Allatoona got a setback when 6-foot-7 center Randy Legros picked up his fourth personal with 3:30 left. He fouled out with 2:12 left with eight points.
Miller Grove played uphill for the rest of the third period and finally tied the scored 37-37 on a layup by Augstin. But Allatoona grabbed a 40-37 lead when Kevin Perry drained a 3-pointer at the horn.
More: Photos: High school basketball state finals
Allatoona (48): Kevin Perry 13, Dylon Ramsey 4, Trey Doomes 7, Ephraim Tshimanga 16, Randy Legros 8, Michael Johnson, Rolan Wooden, Chima Ogboi, Tyler Jackson.
Miller Grove (50): Aaron Augustin 16, Alterique Gilbert 15, Raylon Richardson 5, Colin Young 8, Joshua Jackmon, Naquante Hardy 4, Aidan Saunders , Maurice Harvey 2, Brenton Cox.
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